As the Water Flows

Pitch

After the loss of his wife, Shuwen longs for new relationships but faces resistance from his daughters. This leads him to immerse himself in the distinct lives of his three daughters: one from the elite, another from the middle class, and the last from a working-class background, each concealing her own wounds. Shuwen moves between their respective homes, gradually becoming a bridge between three generations. Meanwhile, the seemingly independent grandchildren must also grapple with identity issues and the pressures of social stratification. Through a narrative that is both understated and profound, the film explores the subtle yet complex emotional currents within a family, while reflecting on life's universal dilemmas, which often lack easy answers. “In 2023, I sorted through my grandfather’s diary… I imagined myself in my grandmother’s shoes, who had passed away even earlier, watching my family and me relive our lives in a parallel universe… It’s not just the story of a Chinese family, but a microcosm of an era in China.” Bian Zhuo